Cooler chest

ABSTRACT

A cooler chest is described for use with a vehicle trailer hitch receiver. The cooler chest includes a bottom portion which has a rigid framework embedded therein with a hitch tongue extending forwardly from the rigid framework for connection to the trailer hitch receiver. The hitch tongue is selectively movable from a horizontally disposed transport position to a vertically disposed stowed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a cooler chest and more particularly to a cooler chest which has a rigid framework embedded in the bottom of the cooler chest and which has a forwardly extending hitch tongue which may be secured to a vehicle trailer hitch receiver.

2. Description of the Related Art

Persons such as hunters, campers and travelers frequently transport a cooler chest or an ice chest in their vehicle, on top of their vehicle, or on a basket or platform secured to the vehicle trailer hitch receiver. If the cooler chest is loaded into the vehicle, it occupies a considerable amount of space which may be needed for luggage or the like. If the cooler chest is placed on the roof rack of the vehicle, it is difficult to lift the cooler chest onto the roof rack and remove the same therefrom. Further, the cooler chest must be secured to the roof rack with straps or the like which may be difficult to secure due to the height of the cooler chest on the roof rack. In addition, a cooler chest positioned on the roof rack of the vehicle usually results in additional fuel consumption due to the wind resistance of the cooler chest. If the cooler chest is carried on a basket or platform secured to the vehicle trailer hitch receiver it must be strapped down for transport. Upon arrival at the destination, the basket or platform must be removed from the trailer hitch receiver and stowed at the hunting or camping site or at the destination of the traveler which is inconvenient at best.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

A cooler chest is described which is adapted to be used in combination with a vehicle trailer hitch receiver. The cooler chest includes a bottom portion, first and second end walls, a front wall, a back wall, and an open upper end which is selectively closable by a cover or lid. A rigid framework is embedded in the bottom portion of the cooler chest. A hitch tongue is secured to the framework which extends forwardly therefrom for selective connection to the trailer hitch receiver.

The hitch tongue is selectively movable from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertically disposed stowed position adjacent the front wall of the cooler chest. The framework is comprised of metal or plastic frame members secured together in a grid-like fashion. The invention also includes means for locking the hitch tongue to the vehicle hitch receiver and includes means for selectively maintaining the hitch tongue in a horizontally disposed position and in its vertically disposed stowed position. Means is also described for selectively maintaining the hitch tongue in its horizontally disposed position and in its stowed position. In the preferred embodiment, the front wall of the cooler chest has a vertically disposed recess formed therein which receives the hitch tongue therein when the hitch tongue is in its stowed position.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved cooler chest.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cooler chest wherein a rigid framework is embedded in the bottom of the cooler chest and which has a hitch tongue extending forwarding therefrom for connection to a vehicle trailer hitch receiver.

A further object of the invention is to provide an invention of the type described which includes means for selectively maintaining the forwardly extending hitch tongue in either a horizontally extending position or in a vertically disposed stowed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cooler chest which is easily attached to a vehicle trailer hitch receiver.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the cooler chest of the invention secured to the trailer hitch receiver of a vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the framework of the cooler chest of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of the cooler chest of this invention secured to a vehicle trailer hitch receiver;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the cooler chest of this invention secured to a vehicle trailer hitch receiver with a portion of the cooler chest cut-away to more fully illustrate the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the cooler chest of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 refers to a conventional vehicle trailer hitch receiver which extends rearwardly from the rear end of a conventional vehicle 11. The improved cooler chest of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 12 and may be comprised of metal, plastic, or other suitable materials.

Cooler chest 12 includes a bottom portion 14, a first end wall 16 a second end wall 18, a front wall 20, a back wall 22 and a cover 24 which selectively closes the upper end of the cooler chest in conventional fashion. In the preferred embodiment, it is suggested that some form of lock be provided to lock the cover 24 in its closed position to discourage theft of the contents of the cooler chest when the vehicle is parked or the like.

The numeral 26 refers to a rigid framework which is completely embedded in the bottom portion 14 of the cooler chest 12. It is preferred that the framework 26 be comprised of a metal material but if desired, plastic may be used for the framework 26. As seen in the drawings, the framework 26 includes a plurality of frame members 28 joined together to create a generally rectangular-shaped grid or framework. Framework 26 may include a vertically disposed channel member 30 having a forwardly extending lower end portion 32. If channel member 30 is not utilized, the element 32 would be secured to the framework 26.

Preferably, the front portion of front wall 20 has a vertically disposed recess 34 formed therein which receives channel member 30.

The numeral 26 refers to a hitch tongue which is selectively pivotally secured to the lower forward portion 32 of the framework 26 so as to be movable from a substantially horizontally disposed transport position as illustrated in FIG. 5 to a substantially vertically disposed stowed position as illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 4. It is preferred that means be provided as will be described hereinafter to selectively and yieldably maintain the hitch tongue 36 in either its horizontally disposed transport position or in its vertically disposed stowed position.

Channel member 30 includes a pair of spaced-apart openings 38 and 40 formed in the lower ends thereof which is adapted to receive the opposite ends of a pivot pin 42 with the pivot pin 42 being rotatably received within bore 44 formed in the inner end of the hitch tongue 36. The pivot pin 42 enables the hitch tongue 36 to be pivotally moved from a horizontal position to a vertically disposed position with respect to the cooler chest. The lower end portion 32 of channel member 30 has a pair of spaced-apart openings 46 and 48 formed therein which are adapted to receive the locking pin 50 therein which is also received within the bore 52 formed in the rearward end of hitch tongue 36 forwardly of bore 44. The forward end of hitch tongue 36 is provided with an opening 54 which is adapted to receive a conventional locking pin 56 in conventional fashion.

When it is desired to lock the hitch tongue 36 in its horizontally disposed transport position, the pin 50 will be extended through the opening 46, bore 52 and opening 48 to lock the hitch tongue 36 in the horizontally disposed position. When it is desired to position the hitch tongue 36 in its vertically disposed stowed position, the pin 50 is removed and the hitch tongue 36 is pivotally moved to its vertically disposed position. At that time, the pin 50 is again inserted through the openings 46 and 48 forwardly of the hitch tongue 36 which maintains the hitch tongue 36 in its vertically disposed stowed position.

The fact that the hitch tongue 36 is stowed in either a vertically disposed recess in the forward end of the cooler chest or is stowed within the channel member 30, ensures that persons will not bump into the hitch tongue 36 when the cooler chest 12 is positioned on the ground such as at a camp site, a hunting site or at a traveler's destination.

When it is desired to transport the cooler chest, the hitch tongue 36 is placed in its horizontally disposed position and inserted into the receiver 10 wherein it is locked. When it is desired to remove the cooler chest 12 from the receiver 10, the hitch tongue 36 is unlocked from the receiver 10 and the cooler chest 12 is moved rearwardly with respect to receiver 12 and then placed on the ground. The hitch tongue 36 is then pivotally moved upwardly into the recess 34 or the channel member 30. The cooler chest may then be used in conventional fashion.

Thus it can be seen that a novel cooler chest has been provided which may be used in combination with a vehicle trailer hitch receiver in a convenient and safe manner. It can therefore be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. 

1. In combination with a vehicle trailer hitch receiver, comprising: a cooler chest including a bottom portion, first and second end walls, a front wall, a back wall, and an open upper end which is selectively closable by a cover; a rigid framework embedded in said bottom portion of said cooler chest; and a hitch tongue secured to said framework which extends forwardly therefrom for selective connection to the trailer hitch receiver;
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said hitch tongue is selectively movable from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertically disposed stowed position adjacent said front wall of said cooler chest.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said framework comprises metal frame members secured together.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said framework comprises plastic frame members secured together.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said framework defines a generally rectangular grid.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said framework is generally horizontally disposed.
 7. The combination of claim 1 including means for locking said hitch tongue to the vehicle hitch receiver.
 8. The combination of claim 2 including means for selectively maintaining said hitch tongue in its said horizontally disposed position.
 9. The combination of claim 2 including means for selectively maintaining said hitch tongue in its said stowed position.
 10. The combination of claim 2 wherein said front wall of said cooler chest has a vertically disposed recess formed therein which receives said hitch tongue therein when said hitch tongue is in its said stowed position.
 11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said framework includes a vertically disposed channel member which is positioned in said vertically disposed recess in said front wall of said cooler chest. 